Reading: Amos 1-5
For, lo, He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is His thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is His name (Amos 4:13).
We cannot hide from God, no matter how hard we try. We can hide our eyes and refuse to see Him, but that will not shield us from His gaze. We can say He does not exist, but that does not change the fact that He was there before the world was created and will still be there when it ceases to be. As Amos so eloquently tells us, He is the Almighty Creator of all things. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:3). Just because we say a bird cannot fly does not stop it from flying. If we say the wind is not blowing, that does not stop the trees from swaying. Saying God did not create us cannot change the reality that He knit us together in our mother's womb (Ps. 139:13).
God has given us the ability to know the difference between right and wrong, but Satan is eager to disrupt our reasoning. Sometimes, he will attempt to confuse us by telling us our actions aren’t that sinful or that they are beyond our control. He gives us false support even as he twists our perception of reality. The alcoholic bound by his or her addiction lives in denial as Satan tells them that their self-worth is tied directly to their next drink. Others, filled with pride and hatred, see everyone as their enemy because they cannot grasp the concept of unconditional love. Satan feeds their fear by telling them that such love does not exist. He whispers in their ears that they are alone in this world, and with each word, he draws the bindings of their sinful choices tighter.
It is a sorrowful existence to live deceived, embracing the chains that bind us. Satan tells us that nothing can change who we have become; he shouts in our ears in an attempt to drown out the voice of God that is telling us that we are not meant to be bound by those chains and can be freed by the love of Christ. There is hope, however. Satan can be ignored; his voice can be silenced. Our Father God, the Creator of all, can remove the scales from our eyes and convict our hearts of our sins, both large and small. Even greater still, He can cleanse us of our guilt and shame and forever free us from the lies that bind us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).
As children of God, saved by His grace, our eyes should always be turned toward Jesus. This world is Satan's, and it is filled with evil. Those living in sin are deceived; their souls are crying out for their Creator while being stifled by the flesh. Do you not hear it? Do you not hear the Holy Spirit within you crying out in response? As children of God, we have a responsibility to respond to their cries and soothe them with the love of Christ which resides within us. Just as God’s hand is always outstretched, so too must ours be.
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20).
Thought for Today: When we turn our backs to God, Satan comes into focus.
Christ Revealed: As the fiery (Amos 1:4,7,10,12,14; 2:2,5; 5:6) judge (chap. 1 – 5). Jesus . . . was ordained of God to be the Judge (Acts 10:38-42; also II Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:18-23). His eyes were as a flame of fire (Rev. 1:14; also 2:18).
Word Studies: 2:13 pressed = burdened; 3:5 gin = trap; 3:14 visit = with punishment; 4:1 kine of Bashan were the fat cows, raised in the best pasturelands; but here, it is used figuratively in referring to self-gratifying, sensual, influential women who encourage their husbands to do wrong; masters = husbands; 4:3 breaches = breaks in the city wall; cast them into the palace = cast them into the mire (dunghill); 4:9 blasting = blight; 5:21 smell = be pleased, take delight; 5:23 viols = harps.
Prayer Suggestion: Ryan McCrary • Country: Cayman Islands (54,914) Caribbean • Major Language: English • Religious Freedom • 67.8% Protestant; 14.1% Roman Catholic; 1.1% Jehovah's Witness; 7% Other; 9.3% None; 0.7% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Ask for forgiveness for particular sins (Ps. 51:1-9)